Mining-machine.



L. F. HESS.

I .MINING MACHINE. APPLICATION. HLED MAR. 26,

m2. Patented June 15, 1915.

LM=3 5QQQ Attorneys THE NORRISEFERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHING mN. D C.

iikiw HESS.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAR. 26, 191.2.

Patented June 15, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys THE NORRIS PETERS c0, FHONJ-LITHO" WASHINGIDN. D.

M ne rarer orripn LOUIS F. HESS, 0F ANSTED, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO HESS DUSTLESS MINING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ANSTED, WEST VIRGINIA.

MINING-MACHINE.

masses.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. Hnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ansted', in the county of Fayette and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful MiningMachine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel means for moving bodily, the supporting structure of a mining machine of that general type which comprises a rotatable and longitudinally movable cutter shaft;

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 shows the invention in top plan; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmental longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan of the tightening means for the chain whereby the machine is moved transversely; Fig. 7 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner of assembling the machine with the walls of the working; and Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5. v

In carrying out the invention there is provided a box-like case 1, supporting adjacent its rear end an electric motor 2 provided with a rheostat 3. The box-like case, 1, together with parts connected therewith serves to support sundry movable elements of the device, and the same, therefore, may be referred to generally as a supporting structure. The armature shaft of the motor 2 is denoted by the numeral 4 and carries at its rear end a pinion 5 meshing into a pinion 6 held against transverse movement in the case-supported bearings 7 in which is journaled for rotation a cutter shaft 8 extending the entire length of the machine.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J mg 15, 1915. Application filed March 26, 1912. Serial No. 686,287.

By means of a feather 9 the cutter shaft 8 is held in the pinion 6 for rotation therewith, the construction being such that the cutter shaft 8 may slide longitudinally in the pinion 6. The forward end of the cutter shaft 8 is'journaled for rotation in a bearing 10, and heads 11 secured to the shaft 8 upon both sides of the bearing 10 prevent the shaft 8 from moving longitudinally in the hearing. The bearing 10 is mounted to slide to and fro upon oppositely disposed sets of guides 12 supported by the case 1 and seen to best advantage in Fig. 4. The forward end of the cutter shaft 8 carries a cutter head 14 which protrudes beyond the forward end of the case 1.

Secured to the intermediate portion of the cutter shaft 8 is a worm 15 meshing into a worm wheel 16 fixed upon a transverse countershaft 17 journaled for rotation in supporting bearings 18. Secured to the eX- tremities of the shaft 17 are pinions 19 and to the pinions 19 are eccentrically pivoted the rear ends of pitmen 20, the forward ends of which are pivotally connected with the bearing 10.

The pinions 19 upon the primary countershaft 17 mesh into smaller pinions 21 upon a secondary countershaft 22 disposed transversely of the machine and journaled for rotation in the case 1. Secured to one end of the secondary countershaft 22 is the crank arm 23 pivotally connected with a link 24 which, in its turn, is pivotally connected with the intermediate portion of a rigid conveyer 25 mounted to slide in a compartment formed in one side of the easel, the conveyer 25 including a plurality of depending blades 26 adapted to sweep along a chute 27 upwardly inclined from the forward end of the machine toward the rear end thereof. Fixed to and upstanding from the conveyor 25 are oppositely extended fingers 28, a pair of fingers 28 being located adjacent the forward end of the machine and another pair of fingers 28 being located adjacent the rear of the machine. Pawls 29 are pivotally connected' with the side walls of the case 1 in the path of the fingers 28, there being slots 30 in the side walls of the case 1 in which slots studs 30 upon the pawls 29 move when the free ends of the pawls are lifted, the enserving to position the pawls 29 in such a manner that the same may be engaged by the fingers 28 under circumstances which will be pointediout hereinafter. Upon one end of the secondary countershaft 22 there is a worm 31 meshing into a worm wheel 32 mounted to rotate freely upon an upright, case-supported shaft 33. Mounted to slide upon the upright shaft 33 is a clutch member 34 engaging the wormwheel 32. I An upright link 35 is pivotally connected with the clutch member 34,'the link 35 being pivotally connected with the intermediate 'portion of a lever 36, located above .the case 1 and extended longitudinally of the machine,th'e lever 36 being fulcrumed upon a standard 37 fixed to and rising from the 7 case 1. J ournaled upon the lower end of the upright shaft 33 is a sleeve 38 having a flaring top 39 adapted to receive a conical head 39. fixed to and depending from the worm wheel'32. The clutch member 34 cooperates with a coacting clutch element upon the worm whee 1'32, a vertical movement of the clutchmemben 34 being possible, under the action of the lever 36. The clutch member 34, therefore, may be moved up and down,

, thedownward movement of the clutch member serving to press the conical head 39 of the worm wheel 32 into thefiaring top 39 of the rotatable member or sleeve 38. To the lower end of the sleeve 38 is secureda sprocket Wheel 40 about which is trained a sprocket chain 41, passed about sheaves 42 'journaled at the rear end of the case 1.

From, the sheaves 42 the chain 41 passes about the sheave 43 secured to the breast 44 of the mine, the chain, after passing about the sheavef43', being secured to the casesupported drum 45 provided with a pinion 46 meshing into a worm 47 supported by the 7 case land provided with a hand wheel 48. i The other end of the chain 41 is trained about a sheave 49 which may be assembled with'the breast 44 of the mine or with one side face 50 thereof. The extremity of this end of the chain is fixed to an eye 51 upon the case 1. d

The operation of the device herein disclosed is as follows When the motor 2 is in operation, the armature shaft 4 will be actuated,causing a rotation of the pinion 5 and a rotation of the intermeshing pinion 6. The pinion 6 will impart rotatory motion to the cutter shaft 8, the cutter shaft 8 actuating the cutter head 14. When the cutter shaft 8 rotated, the Worm 15 will be rotated, the-worm 15 meshing into the worm wheel 16 and causin a rotation of the primary countershaft 1 The pinions 19 will will impart rotatory movement to the secondary countershaft 22, actuating the crank arm 23, and through the instrumentality of the pitman 24 imparting a reciprocatory movement to the conveyer 25. When the conveyer 25 is retracted from the front of the machine toward the rear thereof, the blades 26 ofthe conveyer 25 will slide along the chute 27, retracting the material along the chute and depositing the same at the rear of the machine. When the conveyer 25 is advanced from the rear end of the machine toward the front end thereof, the fingers 28 will ride over the upper edges of the pawls 29, elevating the conveyer 25 so that the blades 26 may secure a new hold upon the material. hen the conveyer 25 is retracted from the front of the machine toward the rear end thereof, the fingers 28 will merely elevate the pawls 30, permitting the free ends of the pawls to drop down in front of the fingers 28 so that the fingers 28 may ride along the upper edges of the 'pawls to elcvate the conveyer 25 when the conveyor is advanced from the rear end of the machine toward the forward end thereof.

In practical operation, the machine is in the first instance mounted as shown in Fig. 8, the sheave 49 being secured to the breast 44 of the working. The cutter head 14 under such circumstances bores an annular hole into the breast 44 of the working. The sheave 49 may be assembled with one side wall 50 of the working, as shown in Fig. 9, and a means is provided whereby the machine may be moved transversely, so that the cutter head 14 as it rotates and reciprocates, may cut laterally through the breast 44, thereby enlarging the circular opening into an elongated slot.

The means whereby the machine is moved laterally, will now be described. The secondary countershaft 22 when rotated through the medium of the intermeshing pinions 19 and 21 will impart a rotation to the worm 31, the same meshing into the worm wheel 32. The worm wheel 32 is free to rotate upon the shaft 33 and ordinarily the worm wheel does not actuate the sleeve 38 and the sprocket Wheel 40. However, by depressing the rear end of the lever 36, the link 35 may be thrust downwardly, thrusting the clutch member 34 downwardly upon the worm wheel 32 and pressing the conical head 39 of the worm wheel into the flared portion 39 of the sleeve 38. Under such circumstances, the secondary countershaft 22 will be operatively connected With the sprocket wheel 40 so as to actuate the chain 41. Noting that one end of the chain 41 is secured to one side of the case 1 as indicated at 51 it will be understood that when the sheave 49 is assembled with the breast 44 of the mine as indicated in Fig. 8, the cutter head 14 will be advanced into the breast 44 when the chain 41 is actuated by the sprocket wheel in the manner hereinbefore set forth. Slack in the chain 41 may be taken up by manipulating the drum 45 through the instrumentality of the pinion 46, the worm 47 and the hand wheel 48. When the sheave 49 is assembled with one side wall 50 of the mine as shown in Fig. 9, it will be obvious that when the chain 41 is actuated in the manner hereinbefore set forth, by the sprocket wheel 40, the mining machine, as an entity, will be moved laterally, thus causing the cutter head 14 to incise a laterally extending slot in the lower portion of the breast 44.

Reference is made to my co-pending application for Letters Patent on a mining machine, filed February 16, 1914, Serial No. 819,024, allowed October 20, 1914.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a mining machine, a supporting structure; a cutter shaft mounted to rotate and to slide longitudinally in the supporting structure; a primary countershaft operatively connected with the cutter shaft to be Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents,

cure a reciprocation of the cutter shaft; a.

secondary countershaft operatively connected with the primary counter shaft;

means operatively connected with the secondary countershaft independently of said auxiliary means, for moving the supporting structure and the cutter shaft; and means separate from the secondary counter shaft for imparting rotation directly to the cutter shaft.

2. In a mining machine, a supporting structure; a shaft carried thereby; a drum loose upon the shaft; a wheel loose upon the shaft; cutting mechanism; means for operatively connecting the cutting mechanism with the wheel to rotate the latter continuously; means for binding the drum and the wheel together with a varying pressure; a flexible element connected with the drum; and means for anchoring the flexible element.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS F. HESS. Witnesses G. E. W. Wool), A. H. McVY.

Washington, .D. G. 

